Parentheses within parentheses?

Question

NOTE: this is NOT a math question, it is an English question.



When typing a sentence and parentheses are required within already present parentheses, what do I do? Do I use parentheses WITHIN the parentheses or do the outside parentheses turn to brackets?


Example:

E. Importance of the retina in the eye (what the pigment (eye color) in the iris is protecting)



So, do the parentheses containing the phrase beginning with "what the pigment" turn into brackets, or what?

Thanks in advance, rebel.writer

Answer 1

in that particular example you give, probably it's better to use a pair of em-dashes or maybe a forward slash instead of more brackets: i.e:-

Importance of the retina in the eye (what the pigment -- eye color -- in the iris is protecting)

or:

Importance of the retina in the eye (what the pigment / eye-color in the iris is protecting)


(oops! '--' is meant to be an em-dash, not two hyphens!)

or even do it the other way round:-

Importance of the retina in the eye -- what the pigment (eye color) in the iris is protecting.

or if none of that appeals, use an asterisk or dagger and add a footnote!!

(umm, just noticed theres a load of stuff in wiki about em-dashes and en-dashes and when to use them that might be useful!)

Answer 2

The way you have it is correct. I can't imagine that anyone would find fault with your substituting a set of parentheses with a set of brackets (so long as both sides of the set are the same, of course).
So the way you have it is right, as would, "E. Importance of the retina in the eye [what the pigment (eye color) in the iris is protecting].... " or "E. Importance of the retina in the eye (what the pigment [eye color] in the iris is protecting)...."
The only difference using brackets would make is that it would slow down your typing. Unless you're a hunt-and-peck typist, your fingers already know where both sides of the parentheses are, but I know I had to stop to hunt for the brackets keys - :)

Answer 3

I've worried on this one myself. Here is what I would do to your example sentence:

E. Importance of the retina in the eye (what the pigment or eyecolor in the iris is protecting)

this works when the sentence is spoken with the change in inflection of your voice...ie;(what the pigment OR EYE COLOR in the iris is protecting)
I'm sure you know what I mean. the capitol letters mean only that I have changed the inflection in my voice for those words.

Problem is though, that you are asking about a written sentence and I honestly can't say I know for sure. You could also do this:

E.Importance of the retina in the eye (what the pigment/eye color in the iris is protecting)

that could work in your written sentence and I think correctly. Not absolutely sure though.
Good luck.

~Kim~

Answer 4

The outer parenthetical would be a bracket, the inner remains parenthesis.

...eye [what the pigment (eye color
but better yet, I believe that the inner parenthesis are not even necessary. Most people would know the meaning of the word pigment, so the definition 'eye color' is probably not needed. You can eliminate 'eye color' and eliminate your problem.

Answer 5

you can use the two different type of brackets on your keyboard i.e. 'Importance of the retina in the eye [what the pigment (eye color) in the iris is protecting]'

Answer 6

I know in mathmatics you are to use brackets w/in parentheses.

Answer 7

i am going to do one, you need to be waiting to do something after that. a million. -4 (x + 2 (5xy - x ) ) -4 (x + 10xy - 2x ) -4x +(-40)xy - (-4)x -4x -40xy +4x start up from the inner maximum and artwork your way out. 2 (5xy - x ) = 10xy - 2x replace that again in: -4 (x + 10xy - 2x ) Mutiply watch your signs and warning signs! -4x +(-40)xy - (-4)x Simplify:-4x -40xy +4x

Answer 8

( [ ] )

( os on the 9
) is on the 0

[ is to the right of the p
] is next to that

Answer 9

the way it is written in the example is the way it is supposed to be written.